Tethered toy and pylon therefor



Feb. 20, 1962 F. E. SCHLAU TETHERED TOY AND PYLON THEREFOR Filed Feb. 26, 1959 FIG.4

FIG. 3

FIG

F. E. SCHLAU ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofihce 3,022,070 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 3,022,070 TETHERED TOY AND PYLON THEREFOR Floyd E. Schlau, Molina, Iil., assignor to Strornheck- Becker Mfg. Co., Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 795,840 10 Claims. (Cl. 27231) This invention relates to a tethered toy and pylon or anchor therefor and has for its principal object the provision of a novel and improved tethered toy and power pylon in which power for propelling the toy is supplied by means carried by the pylon and transmitted to the motor-equipped toy to cause the toy to travel a circular path determined by the length of the tether which is anchored at one end to the toy and at its other end to the pylon by a suitable pivot or swivel.

Tethered toys are of course known but these are in the main of the type in which the source of energy as well as the power or propulsion means is part of the toy or vehicle, which therefore increases the weight of the vehicle and correspondingly increases its cost of manufacture and replacement. According to the present invention, the source of energy is connected to or carried by the pylon, which is here in the form of a carrier or mount in which electrical battery means is carried. Suitable electrical connections are made to a swingable or rotatable member mounted on the pylon to turn about a vertical axis as the center of the circle travelled by the vehicle, and the vehicle is tethered to this member and has electrical connections to the battery means. The invention features the use of a combination tether and electrical conductor means. Another important object of the invention is the arrangement of the battery means as part of the pylon in the sense that the battery means adds weight to the pylon and thus improves the stability of the pylon as well as its ability to serve as an anchor or base. Further significant objects reside in improved means for effecting electrical connections within the pylon, featuring simple and economical connections and particularly connections that will remain efiective throughout rotation of the member to which the vehicle is tethered; improved design and construction details that enable the pylon to be easily and economically manufactured by mass-production methods; improved and novel assembly details of the structure whereby the battery means may be readily installed and removed; and the employment of multi-functional parts in the interests of obtaining a compact low-cost design.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art as a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed by way of example in the ensuing description and accompanying sheet of drawings, the several figures of which are described below.

FIGURE 1 is a reduced plan view of a typical pylon and tethered vehicle arrangement.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of the FIGURE 1 arrangement and a preferred electrical circuit used therewith.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the pylon as seen from one end.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the pylon as seen from the other end.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section as seen along the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the pylon on the scale of FIGURES 3 and 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section showing a wire-tobattery plate connection.

2. FIGURE 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 5. FIGURE 9 is an enlarged section on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 5.

In the representative arrangement shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the pylon or central anchor is designated as a whole by the numeral 10, and a vehicle 12 is tethered thereto by means of a tether 14, the details of which are described below. The vehicle carries its own source of power, here a small electric motor 16 of any suitable type which is connected drivingly by any adequate means (not shown) to drive either or both of the vehicle rear wheels 18; thus affording propulsion means for the vehicle. The vehicle has steerable front wheels 20 and these are set in a steered position according to the circular path to be travelled by the vehicle when the motor 16 is energized. The particular vehicle shown is designed to travel over the floor, table top or any comparable surface, but of course other vehicles travelling via other media may be initially employed. In the present case, the path travelled by the vehicle will be a circle having the tether as its radius and the vertical axis or center of the pylon 10 as its center. The upper part of the pylon journals a rotatable member or arm 22 for continuous swinging about the pylon axis and the tether 14 is connected to this arm in a manner to be described presently. It is a feature of the invention that the tether incorporates means for conducting electricity and accordingly the tether includes a pair of conductors 24 and 26, suitably insulated from each other and encased conventionally in an insulating tube according to the construction of common electrical wire. The wires are connected respectively to motor leads 28 and 30, the connections preferably being made by simply twisting the wires and leads together, or even by simple clips, rather than by soldering etc., whereby the connections may be readily separated for using the vehicle and pylon separately, as when the vehicle is powered by self-contained battery means or energized from an electrical track, as fully described in applicants copending application, Ser.

No. 795,839, filed February 26, 1959. Brief mention is made of the foregoing to illustrate the flexibility of the design.

As will be seen, the motor leads may extend out through an opening 32 in the vehicle body, which opening represents the vehicle cockpit on the basis of the illustration of the vehicle as a scale-model racing auto. The structural connection between the tether and vehicle is efiected by means of a Wire yoke 34 which is suitably anchored to the vehicle and to which the tether is attached as by knotting the tether to the converging legs of the yoke at 36. The vehicle body is preferably molded plastic and as such is a non-conductor. As best shown in FIGURE 9, the free end of the arm 22, which may be of molded plastic or other suitable non-conducting material, has notches 38 and 40 in which the wires 24 and 26 are respectively received, and the wires extend radially inwardly beyond the notches for electrical connection to separate metallic parts of the arm whereby the wires are ultimately connected to a source of electrical energy, here a pair of conventional dry cell batteries 42 of the flashlight type arranged in series and carried by the pylon 10. The details of the electrical connections will be developed below. Suflice it to note at this point that the motor 28 in the vehicle is energized by the batteries via the wires 24 and 26 and the motor may be stopped and started by a vehicle-carried switch 44. e

The pylon 10 includes base and top elements 46 and 48 respectively, each of plate-like nature and here shown as being of Wood; although, any other suitable material, preferably non-conducting, will suffice. The lower or base element 46 has a pair of concave recesses 50 for receiving the batteries, and a pair of matching recesses 52 are provided in the underside of the top or upper element 48. Thus the batteries are located and retained between the base and top. The base is slotted at 54 and 56 transverse to the recesses 50, and the slot 54 receives a metallic terminal or contact plate 58 which is dimpled or otherwise formed at 60 to improve its contact with the proximate ends of the batteries 42. The slot 56 receives a pair of separate terminal or. contact plates 62 and 64 which respectively contact the separate oppositeends of the batteries. These plates are dimpled respectively at 66 and 68 for the purposes aforesaid. The fit of the plates in their respective slots is relatively tight, at least Suficient to retain their positions against accidental displacement but permitting removal if necessary.

With the batteries retained against endwise displace ment by the. slot-received plates58, 62 and 64 and confined also vby the recesses 50 and 52, completion of the assembly in sandwich fashion is eifected by a metal fastener means including a bolt 70 and .nut 72 passed through suitable holes in the elements, the base element 46 being recessed at 74 to accommodate the head of the bolt and the top element 48 being recessed at 76 to 'accommodate acap 78 which itself hasits underportion'recessed at '80 to accommodate the nut 72. The recess 30 v is preferably hexagonal to match the nut, whereby the nut is held against turning so as to facilitate turning of the screw when the assembly is put together and taken apart; Captivity of the nut is assured by cementing the cap 78 in place in the recess 76. Hence, once in place the nut remains captive but the bolt can of course be removed to enable separation of the elements so that the batteries can be replaced when necessary. This cap is here shown as being of wood; although, as in the case of the elements 46 and 48, it may be of other appropriate material. Once the nut 72 is retained, the cap and top element 48 become one piece for all practical purposes.

The cap has a vertical bore '82 disposed coaxially. with the bolt 70 and the upper end portion of the bolt affords a metal thrust bearing, as well as an electrical connection, for the lower end of a shaft 84 rotatable in the bore 82 and affording'means by which the arm 22 is rotatably mounted on the pylon. The arm has a bore 86 intowhich the upper portion of the shaft is received via a force fit,

' but a portion of this bore is slightly relieved, as at 88, so

that the terminal end of the wire 24 may be forced at 90 into the bore along with the shaft to be. tightly held in place and thereby to-eifect an electrical connection with the shaft as well as a structural connection with the arm' 22. Thus, the contact of the wire 24 at 90 with the shaft 84 and the contact of the shaft at its lower end with the top of the bolt 70 completes that part of the electrical circuit from the vehicle motor switch 44 to the bolt, and this part of the circuit is extended by a wire 2 having one end Wrapped at 94 around, or otherwise connected to, the bolt 70 and having its other end, as at 96, forced into the base element slot 56 along with the terminal plate 64 (FIGURE7), theplate being preferably provided with. a notch or aperture 98for-improving retention of the wire portion 96. The other plate 62 may be identical to the plate 64 and it serves to similarly retain the terminal end 100 of a wire 102 which leads exteriorly of the pylon to an electrical connection with a contact or brush 104 fixed to the top of the pylon cap 78.

The underside of the hub or central portion of the arm 22 has an annular groove or recess 106 for receiving, via a snap fit, -an electrical conductor'in the form of a metal ring .or washer .108 which loosely encircles the shaft {84 and which, becauseof its tight fit in the underside of the arm 22, turns with the arm about the radial bearing afforded by the bore 82 in the cap 73 and the thrust bearing afforded between the lower end of the shaft and the top of the bolt. As seen in FIGURE 8, the groove 106 maybe slightly relieved in radial alinement with the tether 14 to permit the terminal end 110 of the wire 26 to be inserted into the groove before the washer 108 is snapped in place, and thust-he wire end 110 is tightly caught between the washer and arm, effecting an electrical connection with the washer and a structural connection of the tether to the arm. The washer of course rides lightly on the brush 108, which is of flexible metal to afford good electrical contact as the arm rotates because of travel of the vehicle-12 in the circle determined by the length of the tether Since the shaft 84 is upwardly removable from the bore 82 in the cap 78, the arm assembly may be raised and lowered to serve as a switch and may. be completely removed Without, breaking any other electrical connections.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the electrical circuit runs from one battery 42 via 64-92--7084-9024 to one a side of the motor via the motor, lead 28 andthe other side of the motor returns via the closed switch 44 and wires 30 and 26 to the other end of the other battery via 1l0ll8-10410262. Theswitch 44 is located in the vehicle as a matter of convenience and choice, but it will be clear that raising and lowering of the arm 22 relative to the cap 78 constitutes a switch in that it will break thecircuit at 104-408.

The design of the pylon is particularly simple in proportion to its functions and purposes. The elements 46 and 48 are to a large extent similar and to that extent may be mass-produced, with subsequent operations being performed to form the slots 54 and 56 in the lower element 46 and the different types of bores and recesses asat 74 and 76. Being of wood, they are inexpensive, easy to finish attractively and constitute ideal insulation material in the case at hand wherein relatively low voltage is involved; The combination of the pylon elements and batteries makes a compact unit, and the weight of the batteries is added to that of the elements and related components to increase the ability of the pylon to serve as an anchor for the tethered vehicle. .Other sources of energy may of course conceivably be used inlieu of the batteries. The electrical connections that are designed to remain relatively permanent, such as those at 90 and 110, will remain so during allordinary weararid tear, and the others, as at 2428, 26If30 94, 98 and 100, are quite simple and may be easily made and separated, bearing in mind that one of the features of .theinvention, is the adaptability of the design to kit or assembleityourself form, which may be thereforereadily handled by youngsters without the necessity of soldering and other relatively complicated procedures, Since the. components of the pylon are separable, the structure lends itself to easy and attractive packaging, it being noted in this "aspect that the connections at 9%) and 110, although somewhat permanent, once efilected especiallyas compared to those at 24-28 and 2630 for example, need not be pre-assembled at the factory but may be simply effected by proper assembly as part of the kit. V 7

Apa t from the specific features directed toward the kit construction as noted, several basic principles-have been evolved and these may be exploited in other types.

of constructions. In addition, many modifications of the features and advantages, other than those outlined, may

" be recognized and utilized, all Without departure from the a spirit and scope of the invention. a

What is claimedis:

. 1. A pylon of the class described for .use' with an electrically energizable toy tethered to. the pylon, comprising: upper and lower plate-like elements spaced apart to receive electric battery means therebetween, said upper element having an upright through opening therein; first and second electrical terminal parts carried by and insulated from one of the elements and insulated from each other and engageable respectively withopposite'ends of the battery means; an upright metallic fastener extending from the lower element to the upper; element via the opening in the latter for securing the elements together with the battery means therebetween, said fastener being electrically connected to the first terminal part and being insulated from the elements and further having an upper end exposed upwardly at said opening; journal means on the upper element having a top portion and including a vertical through bore coaxial with and leading to the fastener upper end; a metal shaft insulated from the journal means and carried in said bore and having a lower end bearing on said fastener upper end and further having an upper and projecting above the journal means top portion; a metal brush contact carried by and insulated from said top portion and electrically connected to the second terminal part; a rotatable member insulated from and carried by the upper end of the shaft to turn about the shaft axis and having an under portion spaced above the brush contact; a brush ring insulated from the member and shaft and carried by the member under portion coaxially with the shaft and engaging the brush contact; and first and second electrical conductors insulated from each other and from the member and extending outwardly from the member for connection to the toy, said first and second conductors having separate electrical connections respectively to the shaft and to the brush ring.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: one element has a slot therein; the means affording the electrical connection between the fastener and the battery means includes a wire having an electrical connection to the fastener and extending to the slot; and said first terminal part is a terminal plate received in the slot and engaging and forcing the wire into said slot for securing the wire, said plate being positioned to establish electrical contact with the battery means.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the shaft is journaled in the journal means, the member has a bore therein tightly receiving the upper end portion of the shaft so as to turn with the shaft, and the electrical connection between the first conductor and shaft includes a portion of the conductor seized between the upper end portion of the shaft and the member bore.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the under portion of the member has a downwardly facing cupshaped recess tightly accommodating the brush ring, and the electrical connection between the second conductor and the ring includes a portion of the conductor seized between the ring and recess.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the upper end of the fastener is threaded and receives a nut, the upper element being recessed to accommodate the nut; the journal means is a part separate from the upper element and is mounted over the nut and secured to the upper element to hold said nut captive.

6. A pylon of the class described for use with an electrically energizable toy tethered to the pylon, comprising base means having first and second terminal parts connectible to a source of electrical energy, said base means including a vertical bore opening upwardly; a metallic bearing disposed in the bore and insulated from the base means and electrically connected to the first terminal part; a metal shaft journaled in the bore and insulated from the base means and having a lower end engaging the bearing and an upper end projecting from the bore;

a brush contact on the base means adjacent to the upper end of the shaft and spaced radially therefrom and insulated from the base means and shaft and electrically connected to the second terminal part; a member having a vertical bore tightly receiving the upper end of the shaft to turn with the shaft, said member being insulated from the shaft and having an under portion closely above the brush contact and provided with an annular recess concentric with the shaft axis; a brush ring contained in said recess and carried by and insulated from said under portion and from the shaft and engaging the brush contact; and first and second electrical conductors insulated from each other and from the member and respectively having electrical connections to the shaft and brush ring and extending from the member for connection to the toy.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, in which: the electrical connection between the first conductor and shaft includes a portion of said conductor seized between the shaft and member bore.

8. The invention defined in claim 6, in which: the electrical connection between the second conductor and the ring includes a portion of said conductor seized between the ring and said member under portion.

9. A pylon for use with an electrically energizable toy tethered to the pylon, comprising: a horizontal base plate and a horizontal top plate spaced apart vertically to sandwich therebetween a pair of cylindrical dry-cell batteries disposed in spaced apart side-by-side relation with their axes horizontal, said plates being of non-electricallyconductive material, said base plate having thereon a pair of upwardly facing partly cylindrical recesses for accommodating the under portions of the batteries and said top plate having therein a pair of downwardly facing partly cylindrical recesses for accommodating the upper portions of the batteries; upright fastener means disposed between the spaced apart batteries and removably interconnecting the plates to normally clamp the batteries therebetween, said fastener means having an electrical conductor portion connected to the batteries at one side thereof; first electrical conductor means on one plate and extending to and connected to the other side of the bat teries and for connection with the toy; and second electrical conductor means having an electrical connection with the fastener means portion and extending to and for connection to the toy.

10. The invention defined in claim 9, in which: one plate has a slot therein, a metal terminal member is insertible in and removable from said slot and has a portion electrically engageable with said other side of the batteries, and the first conductor means terminal portion of flexible metal engageable under said terminal member and forced thereby into said slot when said member is inserted into said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,719,252 West July 2, 1929 1,780,487 Jurgensen Nov. 4, 1930 1,798,358 Slachter Mar. 31, 1931 2,074,878 Weber Mar. 23, 1937 2,272,040 Muldoon Feb. 3, 1942 2,780,721 Lenning Feb. 5, 1957 

